The Florida Gators are currently in Tampa, FL, preparing for the 2011 Outback Bowl against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Raymond James Stadium on Jan. 1 at 1 p.m. Below are some notes from the players after practice on Monday.

NO CHANGES FOR THE OFFENSE

Florida will once again play three quarterbacks in its offense according to a number of players who were asked Monday about the team’s plans on that side of the ball. Redshirt junior starter John Brantley reaffirmed those statements. “We’re still working Jordan Reed and Trey [Burton] in there. That’s what we’re going to stick with. Who knows what the defense will give us, but we’re going to stick with that and keep practicing and keep trying to execute.” Offensive coordinator Steve Addazio will remain the play caller for the Gators in his final game with the team before leaving to lead Temple as head coach.

BRANTLEY REMAINS UNDECIDED ABOUT FUTURE

Speaking of Brantley, the Gators starting QB has yet to decide one way or another whether or not he will stick around next season. Brantley admitted for the first time after new head coach Will Muschamp’s introductory press conference on Dec. 14 that transferring was a consideration. “I’m still going to sit down with my family after this bowl game,” he said at the time. “I think coach Muschamp is a great coach and he’s going to have a great staff come here. But I’m still going to sit down with my family and talk about things.” His tune did not change Monday. “I haven’t really discussed it with my parents yet,” he said. “I’m really concentrating on playing this bowl game and playing the best against Penn State as I can. […] I’m a Gator. That’s what I am right now. I’m just giving all my effort to the bowl game and just acting like it’s any other bowl game or any other game.”

Asked the same thing numerous other times, Brantley repeatedly said that he would “weigh the pros and cons” of returning and playing in a new offense under Muschamp. He did, however, admit that the fact UF is going pro-style is appealing. “Pro-style offense is what I was looking for,” Brantley said. “And I’m still just gonna go home and talk and weigh the pros and cons with what Coach Muschamp wants to do and everything and go from there.”

For what it’s worth, his teammates do not think he is going anywhere. “I think Brantley’s going to say,” redshirt sophomore wide receiver Omarius Hines said, according to The Gainesville Sun. “I really think so. … [Transferring] went through everybody’s mind because I know it went through mine.”

DEMPS STILL NOT SURE-FOOTED

Junior running back Jeff Demps has yet to fully recover from the stress injury in his foot and probably will not see extensive playing time on Saturday. Nevertheless, he says his foot feels “85 percent” healthy, and he will certainly try his best to give it a go.

FOUR PLAYERS, MCCARNEY WILL BE MISSED

With four players who play extensive minutes set to miss the Outback Bowl, redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Omar Hunter said the team is not overly worried about them being out. “We got some young guys who are going to step up. I got trust in them,” he said. “Some guys got to step up, myself included.” However when it comes to defensive line coach Dan McCarney no longer being with the team (he is now the head coach at North Texas), Hunter feels the void. “I miss coach McCarney. I do,” he said. “It’s just a different voice in your head. I’m not used to not hearing his voice in my head every play, every snap. ‘Omar, get going. Get going. Do this, do that.’”

18 Comments

Recipe for disaster in the bowl game – 3 QB’s so the line
has no continuity in hearing the snap count ( can you say offsides
10 times very fast?), Addazio calling the plays ( ouch), Demps
can’t go , McCarney is gone, and JB has checked out mentally. Sucks
for Urb his last game of his last year at Fl will likely be an
embarassing beat down. I am going and will be seeking the club
level bar about the 3rd offsides/3 and out/turnover in the red
zone…(hoping to be proven wrong, but not holding my
breath)

Other teams have overcome things like this for the bowl
(WV, Clemson) so I choose to be optimistic, Penn St is not exactly
at the top of their game this year so we certainly have a chance.
We really need a staff to beat off this negative energy and to keep
our current roster from transferring. I’m guessing we’re targeting
NFL guys, Titans staff if Fisher moves on?

No changes for the offense. Just what I wanted to hear. No matter what happens, I’m not going to boo. Get a scrip for antidepressants and break out the positive mental attitude books. O’yeah, and pray.

We’ll see which team comes out. If Daz can mix it up and I’m sure he’s gonna try to do so and give Meyer the proper send off as a thank you for a job this season. We’ll be alright, I think we win this one. Janoris being out is going to hurt a lot but it is what it is.

@ Gatorgrad79 When you look in the mirror you see the exact
person I hate. If you have.to be that pesimistic…… Please find
a closet, enter, and never come out… When your opinion is so
negitive. Help Gator Nation and leave, maybe that team out west
needs a fan with a “glowing outlook like yours” We don’t! Ok you
can still be a Gator just tell your wife to hide your keyboard
(just stop)…

g8rgr8 Been going to Gator games for 55 years. Never have I pulled against them. Want them to win against PSU more than anything. Realty of the 2010 season says they will have a real hard time and most likely won’t beat PSU. If you can’t see this then you look in the mirror and you will see a real pretty unicorn.

this could be an ugly bowl game. so i guess this means that jordan reed has healed from his concussion. i don’t remember getting an update. i never liked the 3-qb system. it was very chaotic. i still believe that reed showed sparks of brilliance that brantley lacks. well, let’s see what the future holds.

WM has already said the offense is going to be more pro-style so Brantley will be a much better option in that system than the disaster we saw this year and bringing in the wildcat similar to Tebow’s freshman year is one thing…jerking the starting QB around every other play will not work with anyone….Brantley clearly lost all confidence…I hope he comes back and competes to be the starter

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